Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char and in flame and ignite.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Ahoy thar matey! Grab your parrot and lets get on our ships and weigh anchor! It's time to head out to sea, and leave those scurvy landlubber folks behind, savvy? I'll be tha captain to ye scurvy group of scalawags! If ye plan on being a bilge rat on this journey then ye can walk the plank and rot in davy jones locker! Shiver me timbers, I suppose thats a bit harsh. Ill make ye a deckhand and ye can scrub the poop deck, and polish my cutlass then! Or perhaps I'll have ye screw on my pegleg and my hook every mornin! Yo ho ho! That would be a sight to see! Anyway, ye are sure to have fun in my band of scalawags! We will be sailin the seven seas on my ship, the jolly roger, searchin for loot, doubloons, and other booty! Thar is sur eto be plenty of rum and grog and ye may even get yerself a wench now and again! So join me, ye scurvy dogs!

I be the original poster of this here invitation! Just so ye landlubbers know! I'm the original Captain of this particular quest on the seven seas!

Now let's sing them thar landlubbers tha song of our people. This sea shanty shall never be forgotten!

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Also in case ye scurvy dogs need ye selves a guide so ye know what tha pirates like me be talking about here ya go!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, me Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention

I'm a pirate. I'm my own captain.
A friend can betray you, but an enemy will always stay the same.
Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.
If ye can't trust a pirate, ye damn well can't trust a merchant either.
A pirate is for life, not just for Christmas.
Take what ye can, give nothing back.
If ye thinks he be ready to sail a beauty, ye better be willin' to sink with her.
There comes a time in most men's lives where they feel the need to raise the Black Flag.
It is when pirates count their booty that they become mere thieves.
The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates.
Even pirates, before they attack another ship, hoist a black flag.
The average cack-handed deck ape will bristle if ye say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king; I've been up and down and over and out, And I know one thing; Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.
Dead men don't tell tales.
See ye in Davie Jones' Locker.
Ye can swab the poop deck, but ye can't poop on the swab deck.

In an honest service thar is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto.

Yes, I do heartily repent. I repent I had not done more mischief; and that we did not cut the throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that ye aren't hanged as well as we

ome, don't be in a fright, but put on your clothes, and I'll let ye into a secret. You must know that I am Captain of this ship now, and this is my cabin, therefore ye must walk out. I am bound to Madagascar, with a design of making my own fortune, and that of all the brave fellows joined with me...if ye have a mind to make one of us, we will receive you, and if you'll turn sober, and mind your business, perhaps in time I may make ye one of my Lieutenants, if not, here's a ship alongside and ye shall be set ashore

Hark ye, ye Cocklyn and la Bouche, I find by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your hands to whip myself, but I am still able to deal with ye both; but since we met in love, let us part in love, for I find that three of a trade can never agree
Arrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)

Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'

Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.

Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.

Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.

Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.

Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area

Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.

Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.

Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.

Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time

Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.

Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.

Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword

Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.

Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)

Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers

Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot

Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy

Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through

Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail

Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship

Helmsman - the person who steers the ship

Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck

Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details

Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.

Masthead - the top of a mast

Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.

Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.

Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.

Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.

Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.

Prize - a captured ship

Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation

Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)

Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship

Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak

Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing

Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards

Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking

Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship

Topman - sailor in charge of the topsailsArrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)

Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'

Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.

Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.

Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.

Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.

Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area

Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.

Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.

Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.

Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time

Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.

Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.

Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword

Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.

Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)

Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers

Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot

Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy

Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through

Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail

Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship

Helmsman - the person who steers the ship

Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck

Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details

Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.

Masthead - the top of a mast

Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.

Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.

Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.

Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.

Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.

Prize - a captured ship

Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation

Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)

Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship

Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak

Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing

Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards

Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking

Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight, With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight, And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well, And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell, Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Scurvy dog! Pirate life on a ship. Avast ye ayeterday!, gold dubloon my bonny booty briny deep ocean, arrgh shiver me timbers yar walk the plank, hoist the jolly rogers, Arrr

Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey, Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow, pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy, Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust, Ahoy! - Hello! Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend! Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!" All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - aye Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing Bilge-sucking - insult Blimey! - exhortation of surprise Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!" Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone Booty - booty Buccaneer - a pirate Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes Feed the fish - will soon die Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle Head - the pirate ship's toilet Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle Me - my Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts Old Salt - an experienced sailor Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom. Privateer - government-sponsored pirates Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult Scuttle - to sink a ship Seadog - old pirate or sailor Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker Shipshape - cleaned up and under control Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!" Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out. Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going Ye - ye Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention Ye've Landlubber Arrrg! Avast Ye Scurvy Parrot Sea Ahoy Ye Matey Shiver me timbers seven seas poop deck walk the plank ships parrot pegleg hook cannon Davy Jones' Locker poop deck doubloons booty loot booty buccaneer
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!

Starboard – The right side of the ship (if ye are facing the pointed end).

Swab – To clean something or a name for somebody ye don’t like very much.

Swag – Gold and riches.

T

To be three sheets to the wind – To have three sheets to the wind too much alcohol.

Titivate – To clean up and make neat.

W

Walk the plank – To be forced to walk along and off the end of a plank that has been placed over the side of a ship.

Weevil – A kind of beetle that can eat your food before ye do.

Weigh anchor – To lift the anchor and be ready to sail.

Y

Ye – Used instead of ‘you’.

Yer – Used instead of ‘your’.

Addled
Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool.
Aft Short for "after." Toward the rear of the ship.
Ahoy Hello!
Avast! Hey! Could also be used as "Stop that!" or "Who goes there?"
Begad! By God!
Belay Avast Ye! that. "Belay that talk!" would mean "Shut up!"
Bilge! Nonsense, or foolish talk. The bilges of a ship are the lowest parts, inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilgewater—or just "bilge."
Bilge-sucking A very uncomplimentary adjective.
Black Spot

To "place the Black Spot" on another pirate is to sentence him to death, to warn him he is marked for death, or sometimes just to accuse him of a serious crime before other pirates.
Blaggard Blackguard. An insult.
Blimey! An exclamation of surprise.
Booty Loot.
Bosun Boatswain, a petty officer.
Bucko Familiar term. "Me bucko" = "my friend."
Cap'n Short for "captain."
Cat o'nine tails A whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chantey A sailor's work song. Also spelled "shantey" or "shanty."
Corsair A more romantic term for pirate. But still a pirate.
Davy Jones' locker The bottom of the sea.
Deadlights Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
Dead men tell no tales Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
Dog A mild insult, perhaps even a friendly one.
Doubloon A Spanish gold coin. At different times, it was worth either 4 or 16 silver pesos, or "pieces of eight."
Fair winds!

Goodbye, good luck!
Feed the fish What ye do when ye are thrown into the sea, dead or alive.
Gangway! "Get out of my way!"
Godspeed! Goodbye, good luck!
Grub Food.
Fore, or forrard Toward the front end of the ship.
Flogging Punishment by caning, or by whipping with the cat.
Hands The crew of a ship; sailors.
Handsomely Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Jack Ketch The hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat

A small but happy craft, perhaps even one which is a little dinghy.
Jolly Roger The pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag. It was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who surrendered would be treated well. A red flag indicated "no quarter."
Keelhaul Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Kiss the gunner's daughter A punishment: to be bent over one of the ship's guns and flogged.
Lad, lass, lassie A way to address someone younger than you.
Landlubber or just lubber A non-sailor.
Lights Lungs. A pirate might threaten to "have someone's lights and liver."
Line A rope in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line. When a rope is just coiled up on deck, not yet being used for anything, it's all right to call it a rope.
Lookout Someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for other ships or signs of land.
Maroon A common punishment for violation of a pirate ship's articles, or offending her crew. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or, island) with few supplies. That way, no one could say that the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Me A piratical way to say "my."
Me hearties Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Matey A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, if not necessarily friendly, fashion.
No quarter! Surrender will not be accepted.
Piece of eight

A Spanish silver coin worth one peso or 8 reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real.
Pillage To raid, rob, and sack a target ashore.
Pirate A seagoing robber and murderer. Contrast with privateer.
Poop deck The highest deck at the aft end of a large ship. Smaller ships don't have a poop; the highest part aft is the quarterdeck.
Poxy, poxed Diseased. Used as an insult.
Rope's end Another term for flogging. "Ye'll meet the rope's end for that, me bucko!"
Rum (noun) Traditional pirate drink.
Rum (adjective) Strange or odd. A "rum fellow" is a peculiar person, the sort who won't say "Arrrr!" on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Sail ho! "I see a ship!" The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon.
Salt, old salt An experienced seaman.
Scurvy (1) A deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin C, often afflicting sailors;
(2) A derogatory adjective for an epithet, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Sea dog An experienced seaman.
Shanty Another spelling for "chantey" - a sea song.
Shark bait

(1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.).
(2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship.
Shiver me timbers! An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Sink me! An expression of surprise.
Smartly

Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Splice the mainbrace To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Spyglass A telescope.
Starboard The right side of the ship when ye are facing toward her prow.
Sutler A merchant in port, selling what a ship needed for supplies and repairs.
Swab (noun) A disrespectful term for a seaman. "Man that gun, ye cowardly swabs!"
Swab (verb) To clean something. "Swabbing the decks" would be a mild penalty for a disobedient pirate.
Swag Loot.
Wench An individual of the female persuasion. "Saucy" is a good adjective to add to this, and if ye can get away with "Me proud beauty,” more power to ye!
Yo-ho-ho

Thar be a bunch o’ words an’ sayin’s used by salty old sea dogs that don’t make much sense to a landsman, so here’s a few of ‘em to help yer get yer sea legs.

Ahoy thar matey! Grab your parrot and lets get on our ships and weigh anchor! It's time to head out to sea, and leave those scurvy landlubber folks behind, savvy? I'll be tha captain to ye scurvy group of scalawags! If ye plan on being a bilge rat on this journey then ye can walk the plank and rot in davy jones locker! Shiver me timbers, I suppose thats a bit harsh. Ill make ye a deckhand and ye can scrub the poop deck, and polish my cutlass then! Or perhaps I'll have ye screw on my pegleg and my hook every mornin! Yo ho ho! That would be a sight to see! Anyway, ye are sure to have fun in my band of scalawags! We will be sailin the seven seas on my ship, the jolly roger, searchin for loot, doubloons, and other booty! Thar is sur eto be plenty of rum and grog and ye may even get yerself a wench now and again! So join me, ye scurvy dogs!

I be the original poster of this here invitation! Just so ye landlubbers know! I'm the original Captain of this particular quest on the seven seas!

Now let's sing them thar landlubbers tha song of our people. This sea shanty shall never be forgotten!

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

Also in case ye scurvy dogs need ye selves a guide so ye know what tha pirates like me be talking about here ya go!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, me Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention

I'm a pirate. I'm my own captain.
A friend can betray you, but an enemy will always stay the same.
Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.
If ye can't trust a pirate, ye damn well can't trust a merchant either.
A pirate is for life, not just for Christmas.
Take what ye can, give nothing back.
If ye thinks he be ready to sail a beauty, ye better be willin' to sink with her.
There comes a time in most men's lives where they feel the need to raise the Black Flag.
It is when pirates count their booty that they become mere thieves.
The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates.
Even pirates, before they attack another ship, hoist a black flag.
The average cack-handed deck ape will bristle if ye say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king; I've been up and down and over and out, And I know one thing; Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.
Dead men don't tell tales.
See ye in Davie Jones' Locker.
Ye can swab the poop deck, but ye can't poop on the swab deck.

In an honest service thar is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto.

Yes, I do heartily repent. I repent I had not done more mischief; and that we did not cut the throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that ye aren't hanged as well as we

ome, don't be in a fright, but put on your clothes, and I'll let ye into a secret. You must know that I am Captain of this ship now, and this is my cabin, therefore ye must walk out. I am bound to Madagascar, with a design of making my own fortune, and that of all the brave fellows joined with me...if ye have a mind to make one of us, we will receive you, and if you'll turn sober, and mind your business, perhaps in time I may make ye one of my Lieutenants, if not, here's a ship alongside and ye shall be set ashore

Hark ye, ye Cocklyn and la Bouche, I find by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your hands to whip myself, but I am still able to deal with ye both; but since we met in love, let us part in love, for I find that three of a trade can never agree
Arrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)

Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'

Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.

Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.

Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.

Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.

Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area

Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.

Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.

Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.

Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time

Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.

Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.

Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword

Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.

Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)

Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers

Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot

Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy

Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through

Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail

Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship

Helmsman - the person who steers the ship

Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck

Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details

Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.

Masthead - the top of a mast

Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.

Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.

Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.

Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.

Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.

Prize - a captured ship

Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation

Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)

Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship

Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak

Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing

Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards

Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking

Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship

Topman - sailor in charge of the topsailsArrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)

Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'

Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.

Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.

Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.

Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.

Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area

Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.

Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.

Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.

Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time

Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.

Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.

Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword

Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.

Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)

Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers

Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot

Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy

Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through

Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail

Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship

Helmsman - the person who steers the ship

Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck

Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details

Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.

Masthead - the top of a mast

Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.

Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.

Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.

Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.

Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.

Prize - a captured ship

Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation

Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)

Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship

Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak

Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing

Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards

Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking

Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight, With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight, And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well, And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell, Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Scurvy dog! Pirate life on a ship. Avast ye ayeterday!, gold dubloon my bonny booty briny deep ocean, arrgh shiver me timbers yar walk the plank, hoist the jolly rogers, Arrr

Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey, Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow, pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy, Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust, Ahoy! - Hello! Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend! Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!" All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - aye Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing Bilge-sucking - insult Blimey! - exhortation of surprise Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!" Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone Booty - booty Buccaneer - a pirate Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes Feed the fish - will soon die Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle Head - the pirate ship's toilet Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle Me - my Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts Old Salt - an experienced sailor Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom. Privateer - government-sponsored pirates Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult Scuttle - to sink a ship Seadog - old pirate or sailor Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker Shipshape - cleaned up and under control Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!" Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out. Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going Ye - ye Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention Ye've Landlubber Arrrg! Avast Ye Scurvy Parrot Sea Ahoy Ye Matey Shiver me timbers seven seas poop deck walk the plank ships parrot pegleg hook cannon Davy Jones' Locker poop deck doubloons booty loot booty buccaneer
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!

Starboard – The right side of the ship (if ye are facing the pointed end).

Swab – To clean something or a name for somebody ye don’t like very much.

Swag – Gold and riches.

T

To be three sheets to the wind – To have three sheets to the wind too much alcohol.

Titivate – To clean up and make neat.

W

Walk the plank – To be forced to walk along and off the end of a plank that has been placed over the side of a ship.

Weevil – A kind of beetle that can eat your food before ye do.

Weigh anchor – To lift the anchor and be ready to sail.

Y

Ye – Used instead of ‘you’.

Yer – Used instead of ‘your’.

Addled
Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool.
Aft Short for "after." Toward the rear of the ship.
Ahoy Hello!
Avast! Hey! Could also be used as "Stop that!" or "Who goes there?"
Begad! By God!
Belay Avast Ye! that. "Belay that talk!" would mean "Shut up!"
Bilge! Nonsense, or foolish talk. The bilges of a ship are the lowest parts, inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilgewater—or just "bilge."
Bilge-sucking A very uncomplimentary adjective.
Black Spot

To "place the Black Spot" on another pirate is to sentence him to death, to warn him he is marked for death, or sometimes just to accuse him of a serious crime before other pirates.
Blaggard Blackguard. An insult.
Blimey! An exclamation of surprise.
Booty Loot.
Bosun Boatswain, a petty officer.
Bucko Familiar term. "Me bucko" = "my friend."
Cap'n Short for "captain."
Cat o'nine tails A whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chantey A sailor's work song. Also spelled "shantey" or "shanty."
Corsair A more romantic term for pirate. But still a pirate.
Davy Jones' locker The bottom of the sea.
Deadlights Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
Dead men tell no tales Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
Dog A mild insult, perhaps even a friendly one.
Doubloon A Spanish gold coin. At different times, it was worth either 4 or 16 silver pesos, or "pieces of eight."
Fair winds!

Goodbye, good luck!
Feed the fish What ye do when ye are thrown into the sea, dead or alive.
Gangway! "Get out of my way!"
Godspeed! Goodbye, good luck!
Grub Food.
Fore, or forrard Toward the front end of the ship.
Flogging Punishment by caning, or by whipping with the cat.
Hands The crew of a ship; sailors.
Handsomely Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Jack Ketch The hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat

A small but happy craft, perhaps even one which is a little dinghy.
Jolly Roger The pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag. It was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who surrendered would be treated well. A red flag indicated "no quarter."
Keelhaul Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Kiss the gunner's daughter A punishment: to be bent over one of the ship's guns and flogged.
Lad, lass, lassie A way to address someone younger than you.
Landlubber or just lubber A non-sailor.
Lights Lungs. A pirate might threaten to "have someone's lights and liver."
Line A rope in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line. When a rope is just coiled up on deck, not yet being used for anything, it's all right to call it a rope.
Lookout Someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for other ships or signs of land.
Maroon A common punishment for violation of a pirate ship's articles, or offending her crew. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or, island) with few supplies. That way, no one could say that the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Me A piratical way to say "my."
Me hearties Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Matey A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, if not necessarily friendly, fashion.
No quarter! Surrender will not be accepted.
Piece of eight

A Spanish silver coin worth one peso or 8 reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real.
Pillage To raid, rob, and sack a target ashore.
Pirate A seagoing robber and murderer. Contrast with privateer.
Poop deck The highest deck at the aft end of a large ship. Smaller ships don't have a poop; the highest part aft is the quarterdeck.
Poxy, poxed Diseased. Used as an insult.
Rope's end Another term for flogging. "Ye'll meet the rope's end for that, me bucko!"
Rum (noun) Traditional pirate drink.
Rum (adjective) Strange or odd. A "rum fellow" is a peculiar person, the sort who won't say "Arrrr!" on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Sail ho! "I see a ship!" The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon.
Salt, old salt An experienced seaman.
Scurvy (1) A deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin C, often afflicting sailors;
(2) A derogatory adjective for an epithet, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Sea dog An experienced seaman.
Shanty Another spelling for "chantey" - a sea song.
Shark bait

(1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.).
(2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship.
Shiver me timbers! An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Sink me! An expression of surprise.
Smartly

Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Splice the mainbrace To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Spyglass A telescope.
Starboard The right side of the ship when ye are facing toward her prow.
Sutler A merchant in port, selling what a ship needed for supplies and repairs.
Swab (noun) A disrespectful term for a seaman. "Man that gun, ye cowardly swabs!"
Swab (verb) To clean something. "Swabbing the decks" would be a mild penalty for a disobedient pirate.
Swag Loot.
Wench An individual of the female persuasion. "Saucy" is a good adjective to add to this, and if ye can get away with "Me proud beauty,” more power to ye!
Yo-ho-ho

Thar be a bunch o’ words an’ sayin’s used by salty old sea dogs that don’t make much sense to a landsman, so here’s a few of ‘em to help yer get yer sea legs.

Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight, With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight, And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well, And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell, Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Scurvy dog! Pirate life on a ship. Avast ye ayeterday!, gold dubloon my bonny booty briny deep ocean, arrgh shiver me timbers yar walk the plank, hoist the jolly rogers, Arrr

Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey, Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow, pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy, Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust, Ahoy! - Hello! Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend! Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!" All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - aye Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing Bilge-sucking - insult Blimey! - exhortation of surprise Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!" Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone Booty - booty Buccaneer - a pirate Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes Feed the fish - will soon die Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle Head - the pirate ship's toilet Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle Me - my Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts Old Salt - an experienced sailor Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom. Privateer - government-sponsored pirates Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult Scuttle - to sink a ship Seadog - old pirate or sailor Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker Shipshape - cleaned up and under control Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!" Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out. Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going Ye - ye Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention Ye've Landlubber Arrrg! Avast Ye Scurvy Parrot Sea Ahoy Ye Matey Shiver me timbers seven seas poop deck walk the plank ships parrot pegleg hook cannon Davy Jones' Locker poop deck doubloons booty loot booty buccaneer
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!

Starboard – The right side of the ship (if ye are facing the pointed end).

Swab – To clean something or a name for somebody ye don’t like very much.

Swag – Gold and riches.

T

To be three sheets to the wind – To have three sheets to the wind too much alcohol.

Titivate – To clean up and make neat.

W

Walk the plank – To be forced to walk along and off the end of a plank that has been placed over the side of a ship.

Weevil – A kind of beetle that can eat your food before ye do.

Weigh anchor – To lift the anchor and be ready to sail.

Y

Ye – Used instead of ‘you’.

Yer – Used instead of ‘your’.

Addled
Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool.
Aft Short for "after." Toward the rear of the ship.
Ahoy Hello!
Avast! Hey! Could also be used as "Stop that!" or "Who goes there?"
Begad! By God!
Belay Avast Ye! that. "Belay that talk!" would mean "Shut up!"
Bilge! Nonsense, or foolish talk. The bilges of a ship are the lowest parts, inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilgewater—or just "bilge."
Bilge-sucking A very uncomplimentary adjective.
Black Spot

To "place the Black Spot" on another pirate is to sentence him to death, to warn him he is marked for death, or sometimes just to accuse him of a serious crime before other pirates.
Blaggard Blackguard. An insult.
Blimey! An exclamation of surprise.
Booty Loot.
Bosun Boatswain, a petty officer.
Bucko Familiar term. "Me bucko" = "my friend."
Cap'n Short for "captain."
Cat o'nine tails A whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chantey A sailor's work song. Also spelled "shantey" or "shanty."
Corsair A more romantic term for pirate. But still a pirate.
Davy Jones' locker The bottom of the sea.
Deadlights Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
Dead men tell no tales Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
Dog A mild insult, perhaps even a friendly one.
Doubloon A Spanish gold coin. At different times, it was worth either 4 or 16 silver pesos, or "pieces of eight."
Fair winds!

Goodbye, good luck!
Feed the fish What ye do when ye are thrown into the sea, dead or alive.
Gangway! "Get out of my way!"
Godspeed! Goodbye, good luck!
Grub Food.
Fore, or forrard Toward the front end of the ship.
Flogging Punishment by caning, or by whipping with the cat.
Hands The crew of a ship; sailors.
Handsomely Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Jack Ketch The hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat

A small but happy craft, perhaps even one which is a little dinghy.
Jolly Roger The pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag. It was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who surrendered would be treated well. A red flag indicated "no quarter."
Keelhaul Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Kiss the gunner's daughter A punishment: to be bent over one of the ship's guns and flogged.
Lad, lass, lassie A way to address someone younger than you.
Landlubber or just lubber A non-sailor.
Lights Lungs. A pirate might threaten to "have someone's lights and liver."
Line A rope in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line. When a rope is just coiled up on deck, not yet being used for anything, it's all right to call it a rope.
Lookout Someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for other ships or signs of land.
Maroon A common punishment for violation of a pirate ship's articles, or offending her crew. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or, island) with few supplies. That way, no one could say that the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Me A piratical way to say "my."
Me hearties Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Matey A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, if not necessarily friendly, fashion.
No quarter! Surrender will not be accepted.
Piece of eight

A Spanish silver coin worth one peso or 8 reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real.
Pillage To raid, rob, and sack a target ashore.
Pirate A seagoing robber and murderer. Contrast with privateer.
Poop deck The highest deck at the aft end of a large ship. Smaller ships don't have a poop; the highest part aft is the quarterdeck.
Poxy, poxed Diseased. Used as an insult.
Rope's end Another term for flogging. "Ye'll meet the rope's end for that, me bucko!"
Rum (noun) Traditional pirate drink.
Rum (adjective) Strange or odd. A "rum fellow" is a peculiar person, the sort who won't say "Arrrr!" on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Sail ho! "I see a ship!" The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon.
Salt, old salt An experienced seaman.
Scurvy (1) A deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin C, often afflicting sailors;
(2) A derogatory adjective for an epithet, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Sea dog An experienced seaman.
Shanty Another spelling for "chantey" - a sea song.
Shark bait

(1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.).
(2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship.
Shiver me timbers! An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Sink me! An expression of surprise.
Smartly

Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Splice the mainbrace To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Spyglass A telescope.
Starboard The right side of the ship when ye are facing toward her prow.
Sutler A merchant in port, selling what a ship needed for supplies and repairs.
Swab (noun) A disrespectful term for a seaman. "Man that gun, ye cowardly swabs!"
Swab (verb) To clean something. "Swabbing the decks" would be a mild penalty for a disobedient pirate.
Swag Loot.
Wench An individual of the female persuasion. "Saucy" is a good adjective to add to this, and if ye can get away with "Me proud beauty,” more power to ye!
Yo-ho-ho

Thar be a bunch o’ words an’ sayin’s used by salty old sea dogs that don’t make much sense to a landsman, so here’s a few of ‘em to help yer get yer sea legs.
ABBEY LUBBER : A loiterer that could work but will not.

ABEAM : The direction at right angles to the hull. To either side of the ship

ABLE SEAMAN : A skilled sailor

ABRAHAM MEN : Vagabonds that beg by pretendin’ to ‘ave been discharged with no money from ships.

ADDLE : Putrid water in the water barrels.

ADRIFT : Floating about out of control.

ADVENTURE : An enterprise in which something is risked or left to chance.

AFEARD : A common way of saying afraid.

AFT. or Abaft : The direction towards the stern of the ship. That’s the “back” for land-lubbers.

AHOY : A shout used to get someone’s attention.

ALOFT : The top part of the masts and rigging.

AMBUSH : Hiding so as to attack without warnin’.

ARRR : A multipurpose mostly positive exclamation not to be confused with ARRRGH which is usually negative.

ARTHUR : A well known sea game.

ARTICLES : A set of rules which govern pirate’s behaviour on a vessel.

AYE : A way of sayin’ yes. AYE AYE : A way of sayin’ aye to someone that’s a bit deaf.
BACK-O’-BEYOND : A long way from anywhere. Usually where ye don’t want t’ be

BACK-STAFF : A tool the navigator uses to work out how high the sun is in the sky. Helps ‘im work out where we are, while everybody else is scratching their heads.

BALLAST : Heavy stuff in the hold of the ship to keep her steady.

BARKING IRONS : Large duelling pistols.

BARNACLE : A type of shell fish that sticks to the bottom of the ship's hull. If too many get attached they’ll slow the ship down so they need to be scraped off regularly.

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES : Means cover the hatches to the lower decks with canvas during a storm to avast ye! water from getting belowdecks.

BEATING : Sailin’ towards the wind in a zig zag line.

BEATING THE BOOBY : Slapping of hands around your arms to warm your self up on a cold watch.

BECALMED : Not able to sail because thar is no wind.

BEFORE THE MAST : The station of a sailor that is not an officer.

BELAY : To secure, tie up or make fast, often another way of sayin’ stop.

BELAYING PIN : A wooden rod sitting in a hole on the rail that a rope can be tied to temporarily. A useful improvised weapon aboard a sailing ship because they’re everywhere and just right for a club.

BELL : Every half hour of a four hour watch the ship’s bell is rung to show how many half hours have passed. If an hour has past it would be rung twice and we would say the time was “two bells” of that watch.

BILBOES : A method of securing captives by means of a metal bar to which shackles be fixed. This is what we means when we say “Clap him in irons.”

BILGE : The lowest part of the ship. Wet, musty and full of rats.

BLACK JACK : Another name for a pirate flag.

BLACK SPOT : A black mark on a piece of paper that means “We’re going to get ya” or somethin’ like that.

BLEEDING THE MONKEY : Stealin’ the grog.

BLETHERING : Talking nonsense.

BLOODY FLAG : A red flag we use to say ”We’re goin’ to kill the lot of yer.”

BLOW THE GAFF : Givin’ away a secret or informin’.

BLUNDERBUSS : A short fire arm with a wide mouth that scatters musket balls over a wide area.

BOSUN (also Boatswain) : An officer on the ship who is in charge of the ship’s rigging, anchors, cables, and deck crew.

BOOM : A long spar extending from the mast to extend the foot of a sail. Also the sound a cannon makes when fired at the enemy.

BOOTY : That be booty to ye or me.

BOREAS : A name for the North wind.

BOW : The front of the ship or boat.

BOW CHASERS : A pair of guns mounted in the bow to fire directly ahead.

BOWSPRIT : The slanted spar that sticks out over the bow of the ship and is used to support the fore-mast and spread the fore stay sail.

BRIGANTINE or Brig : A two-masted ship, square-rigged on both masts.

BROAD ARROW : The British royal mark for government stores.

BROADSIDE : Side by side with another ship, a good place to be if ye have more guns than them, a very bad place to be if they have more than you. A “Broadside" has come to mean firing all the cannon on one side of one ship into the side of another.

BUCCANEER : A pirate, especially one that preyed on Spanish shipping in the West Indies during the 17th century.

BULLYRAG : Insulting in a noisy threatening way.

BURGOO : A dish made of boiled oat-meal seasoned with salt, butter and sugar.

BUTTER FINGERED : Careless, clumsy and likely to drop things.

BY THE WIND : Sailin’ in the same direction as the wind’s blowin’.
CABIN : What land-lubber would call a “room” on a ship.

CABLE : A heavy rope or chain often used for mooring or anchoring a ship.

CABLE’S LENGTH : A measure of about 100 fathoms and used to estimate the distances of ships in a fleet.

CACKLE FRUIT : Hen’s eggs

CAESAR’S PENNY : The tip given by a recruiting sergeant. Taking this money meant ye had received your first payment and therefor were recruited into service and could not refuse.

CALALOO : A dish of fish and vegetables.

CANISTER SHOT or Case shot : A package of small iron balls loaded into a gun to be used against sailors without causing too much damage to the ship.

CANVAS : A cloth made from hemp and used for the sails. A ship in motion by her sails is said to be “Under canvas.”

CAPTAIN or Cap’n : The master of the ship. A pirate captain was voted into command by the crew and had absolute authority in battle and ruled by consent at other times, assisted by the Quartermaster.

CAPSTAN : A winch used for hauling heavy weights like the anchor. A vertical cylinder with handles that is rotated manually by several of the crew and around which a cable is wound.

CARDINAL POINTS : The general name for the north, east, south and west points on the horizon.

CAREENING : Taking the ship into shallow waters or out of the water altogether to scrape off barnacles, weed and all the other pesky stuff that likes to grow on the bottom of the hull. It’s a tough job but it has to be done if we want to keep the ship moving fast in the water.

CARPENTER : A skilled crew member in charge of repairing all wooden parts of a ship. As most of the ship is made of wood that makes him a very important person to have of board a pirate ship.

CASK : A barrel for liquid or solid provisions.

CAST-AWAY : Shipwrecked.

CAT O'NINE TAILS or Cat : A whip with nine lashes used for flogging, a punishment much used by the British Navy. Sometime made by untwisting a three strand rope and re-laying it into the nine strands.

CAULKING : Oakum or old rope jammed into cracks in the ships hull and treated with pitch to waterproof it.

CHAIN SHOT : Two cannonballs chained together and aimed high to cut the masts and rigging of a ship.

CHART or Sea chart : What some lubbers would call a map and not likely to be marked with an X that’s for sure.

CHASE GUN : A cannon mounted at the bow of the ship, used when chasing another ship.

CHIVEY : A knife.

CHOWDER : A stew of codfish, salt pork, biscuit and lots of pepper.

CHOWDER-HEADED or Chuckle-headed : Stupid or foolish.

CHRISTIAN : A Danish gold coin.

CLOSE-HAULED or Close to the wind : A ship sailing as much towards the wind as she can.

COCKED HAT : A three cornered hat with it’s brim turned up at the sides. Also called a Tricorne.

CODGER : An easy going but steady man, one that will not move faster than he pleases.

COD-LINE : A light line.

COLOURS : The flags or banners that mark ships of different nations. Pirates often flew false colours to get close to their targets before raising the black jack.

COMBING THE CAT : The Bosun running his fingers through the cat o'nine tails to separate them.

COMPASS : An instrument with a magnetic needle that points towards the North. It is marked with the cardinal points, north, east, south and west and then further divided into thirty two points in all. Modern compasses are divided into 360 points or degrees.

CONTRABAND : Cargo forbidden by law to be supplied to an enemy. A profitable trade for pirates.

COOPER : A skilled crew member in charge of making, repairing and taking apart barrels for storage.

CORDAGE : A general term for the running rigging of a ship and any rope kept in reserve.

CORSAIR : A pirate operating around the Mediterranean Sea.

COT : A wooden framed bed suspended from the beams of the ship for the officers. Slightly more comfortable than the hammocks used by the crew.

COXSWAIN or Coxson: The person who steers a ship's ship and is in charge of its crew.

CROW'S NEST : A small platform, near the top of a mast. A good place to watch out for other ships or land.

CUTLASS : A short sword used for fighting on board ships.
DANCE THE HEMPEN JIG : To be hanged. The fate waitin’ for many a pirate.

DAVY JONES : The dark spirit of the sea. DAVY JONES’S LOCKER : The bottom of the sea where nothing is lost because ye know where it is. Where everything thrown overboard ends up, including the bodies of sailors buried at sea.

DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES : A good reason for leavin’ no survivors.

DEAD RECKONING : Estimating a ship’s position by working out speed and direction of travel. Not as accurate as using astronomical methods.

DITTY BAG : A small duffle bag used by a crewman to store their personal equipment and belongings.

DITTY BOX : A small box or chest for holding a seaman’s valuables.

DOG’S BODY : Dried peas boiled in a cloth.

DOUBLE DUTCH : Gibberish or any unintelligible language.

DOUBLOON : A golden Spanish coin. Worth about seven week's pay to an average sailor.

DRAFT : The depth of a ship’s keel below the water line. The depth of water needed to float a vessel.

DUDS : Clothing, and not very good clothing at that.
EAGLE or Spread Eagle : A punishment where the offender is tied hand and foot to the rigging and left thar for a while.

St. ELMO’S FIRE : Electric light seen flickering about the masts, yard arms and rigging during a storm.

EYE OF THE WIND : Where the wind is blowing from.
FATHOM : The full reach of a cack-handed deck ape with arms extended. A measure of six feet used to mark the depth of water using a lead or sounding line.

FILIBUSTER : A Spanish word for pirate. Trust them to have a fancy word for it.

FORE : The direction towards the stem of the ship. For land-lubbers, that’s the “front”.

FORECASTLE : The part of the upper deck forward of the foremast. Often this was was a built up section where some of the crew is housed.

FOREMAST : The foremost mast of the ship.

FURL : To roll up and secure. Usually referring to the sails.

FUTTOCK : A curved timber that forms a rib in the frame of a ship. One o’ the bits yer trip over.
GALLEON : A large Spanish merchant ship. Often full o’ booty, sometimes loaded with cannons. A bit old fashioned by the 18th Century.

GANGPLANK : A removable board or ramp used to board a ship from a pier.

GANGWAY : A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck that should be kept clear to move on at all times. Shouting “Gangway” is a good way to tell people they are in your way.

GIBBET : Chains or cages in which the rotting corpses of hung pirates are displayed in order to discourage piracy.

GO ON ACCOUNT : A gentlemanly way of sayin’ “I’ve become a pirate.”

GRAPE or Grapeshot : Small balls of lead or iron fired in quantity from a cannon. Makes a mess of soft targets like sails or people without damaging the ship too much.

GRENADE : An iron pot with a fuze, filled with gunpowder. Thrown onto the enemies decks before boarding.

GROG : Rum, sometimes mixed with water. Feelin’ “Groggy” is what ‘appens when yer drinks too much of it.

GUN : A cannon, not to be confused with a pistol or a musket.

GUNWALE or Gunnel : Originally the upper plank on the hull, binding the frame together. A term often used for the side of the ship, as in “Throw that bilge rat over the gunwale.”
HAIL : To call another vessel, usually to ask where she comes from and where she’s going. A traditional pirate hail is “Hove-to or we’ll blow ye out of the water.”

HALYARD : A line used to hoist a sail, spar, or flag

HANDS : The crew of the ship.

HARDTACK or Sea biscuit : A hard biscuit made from flour and water baked solid so it can be stored for a long time. Often full o’ weevils an’ maggots. Better than eating bilge rats, but not by much.

HEAVE-TO or Hove-to : Slowing the ship down and fixing its course. Often called out as an order from one ship to another, demanding the other ship strike sails and avast ye! moving in order to be boarded.

HEMPEN HARNESS : The hangman’s noose.

HOGSHEAD : A large barrel holding about a hundred gallons used for the shipment of wines and spirits.

HOLYSTONE or Bible : A stone used for scouring the wooden decks of a ship. About the size of an old Bible and used by sailors on their knees, hence the name.

HOLD : The interior of the hull below the decks.

HOVE-TO : Avast Ye! a ship from moving in the water.

HULL : The body of the ship, the bit that floats on the water below the masts, rigging and sails.
IMPRESS : To force into service. If thar weren’t enough willing to join a crew, others were recruited by force. A method often used by the British Navy.

IRONS or Bilboes : Long bars on which shackles are fixed with a lock at the end. Used for holding the legs of prisoners for as long as ye need to.
JACK : The British Union flag but also Jack or Jack Tar are familiar terms for an ordinary sailor.

JIB : A triangular sail in the forward part of the ship's rig and in small craft like sloops it is attached to the bowsprit or the bow.

JURY-RIGGED : A ship fitted with temporary rigging, masts or sails when accident or attack has damaged the proper rig.
KEEL : The lowest timber of the ship's frame, running from Stem to Stern.

KEEL-HAULING : A horrific punishment where the victim is dragged under the ship with ropes attached to the other side of the hull. Not only was thar a good chance of drowning but the barnacles and other encrustations on the hull would cause terrible abrasions as the victim was hauled under.

KNOT : A measure of the ship’s speed made by counting the knots on a log-line paid out to a float for thirty seconds. A ship travelling at 8 knots is moving 8 nautical miles an hour.
LADDER : What an land-lubber would call “stairs” between decks on a ship.

LANDSMAN : A new recruit that has never been to sea before.

LANYARD : A short rope or cord used for hanging or securing something.

LEAGUE : A distance of three nautical miles.

LETTER OF MARQUE : A document given to a captain allowing him to attack enemy ships under the authority of the crown, in return for a cut of the loot. It makes a pirate sort of legal if you’re on the right side.

LINE : What a Land Lubber would call “a rope” in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line.

LOADED TO THE GUNNELLS : Drunk as can be. Not fit to sail a ship that’s for sure.

LOG : A record of the ship's course, progress, and any events of navigational importance.

LOG-LINE : A knotted length of line with a piece of wood at the end which is thrown into the water to determine how many "knots" run out in thirty seconds. See Knot.

LONG BOAT : A large ship carried by a ship which is used to move loads such as anchors, chains, ropes, or loot.

LONG CLOTHES : The type of clothing worn on land.

LOOKOUT : A crew member posted to keep watch, often from the crow’s nest, for other ships or signs of land.

LOOT : Stolen stuff.

LUBBER : An awkward, clumsy, unseamanlike fellow. LAND-LUBBER : The worst kind of Lubber, one that’s never even been to sea before.
MAIN-MAST : The largest and most central mast of the ship.

MAN-OF-WAR : A warship designed and equipped for battle

MARLINSPIKE : An iron pointed tool used to separate the strands of a rope for splicing

MAROONING : Abandoning a person on a deserted coast or island with very few supplies. Usually resulting in a slow death by starvation or thirst. If ye were rescued you’d probably be hung because people presumed ye were a pirate.

MAKE FAST : Tying or securing ropes. Fast is usually used in the sense of “fasten” on ship.

MIZEN-MAST: The aftermost mast of the ship. The one at the “back” for the land-lubbers

MUTINY : Revolt or determined disobedience on a ship. Punishable by death in the British Navy.
NAVIGATOR : A crew member skilled in the art of navigation. Combining seamanship and knowledge of nautical astronomy. A skilled navigator could guide a ship from port to port often with no sight of land for months on end.

NEWGATE BIRDS : Men sent to serve on British Navy ships in place of serving a sentence in prison.

NO PREY, NO PAY : This means ye won’t get paid unless we capture some ships.
OAKUM : The remains of old ropes that have become untwisted or picked to pieces, sometimes called “tow”. This material was often used to stuff into cracks in the ship’s hull with tar to seal it from water.

ORLOP: The lowest deck, immediately above the hold.
PAINTER : A rope attached to the bows of a boat, used for making her fast.

PIECES OF EIGHT : Spanish silver coins worth eight "reales.," could be cut into eight pieces, each worth one reale.

PINNACE : A light ship propelled by sails or oars, used for travelling between ship and shore.

PIRACY or Pyracy : Robbery at sea.

PIRATE or Pyrate : Someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without letters of marque.

PIRATE ROUND : A route from North America to the Indian Ocean taking advantage of seasonal winds and trade.

PISTOL PROOF : Very lucky, the sort of fellow that always seems to make the right choices.

PLUNDER : To rob, steal and generally make of with everybody’s loot.

POOP DECK : The uppermost deck at the stern of a ship, usually above the captain’s quarters.

PORT : A seaport or the left side of the ship which is normally the side ye bring in to port.

POWDER MONKEY : A crew member whose job during battle was to run back and forth from the ship's powder hold carrying black powder for the guns.

PRESSGANG : A company of men sent a’shore to force men into service on a ship, usually a Navy one but sometimes a pirate ship.

PRIVATEER : Someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea with letters of marque from a government.

PRIZE : A captured ship and its cargo.

PROW : For the lubbers that’s the pointy bit at the front of the ship.

PURSER : An officer on a ship responsible for provisions and clothing. Such provisions were often sold to sailors on credit against their next payment which meant the sailors never actually managed to keep any of their money when they were finally paid.
QUADRANT : A navigation tool used to measure the altitude of the sun. Largely replaced by the back-staff.

QUARTER : If we offer ye quarter it means we’ll treat ye well if ye surrender. If we say “No Quarter” it means we’ll kill the lot of yer.

QUARTER-DECK : The uppermost deck abaft the main mast. The “sticky up bit at the back” for the land-lubbers.

QUARTER-MASTER : On pirate ships the quartermaster was responsible for stores, provisions and booty. In most cases he was second in charge to the captain.
RAMSHACKLE : Out of repair, disorderly.

RATLINE : Horizontal lines run along the shrouds to form a ladder for the crew to use in getting up into the rigging.

REEF - An underwater obstacle of rock or coral that will tear a great hole in the bottom of the ship if ye hit it. Also “to reef the sails” means tying them up a bit to reduce to area of sail in a strong wind.

RIGGING : Any or all of the ropes or chains used to support the masts and arrange the sails. Those that are “standing” are fixed, while those that are “running” are used to adjust the yards and sails.

RIG OF A SHIP : The set of masts, ropes and sails that makes up the true character of a ship.

ROPE : Is made of hemp or other stuff, spun into yarns and strands and twisted together into cordage. When it is put to use in the rigging it is then called a line, not a rope. If a rope is just coiled up on deck, not being used for anything, then ye can call it a rope, not a line.

RUTTER : A book of charts, a journal, log book or set of sailing instructions used by a navigator.
SALMAGUNGI : A savoury dish made of cured fish and onions.

SCUPPERS : Vents on a ship's deck that allow water to drain back to the sea rather than collecting in the bilge. "Scupper that!" means get rid of something by chucking it overboard.

SCURVY : A common disease among sailors caused by vitamin C deficiency causing spongy and bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin and extreme weakness. This lead to the British Navy giving their crews lime juice and being called “limeys” by the American sailors.

SCUTTLE : To deliberately sink a ship by making a hole in the hull.

SEA LEGS : A cack-handed deck ape is said to have his sea legs when he can stand steady on the deck of a ship pitching and rolling on the waves. Sometimes a sailor, used to this motion, takes a while to get his land legs back when he goes a’shore which makes him swagger a bit as he walks.

SHEET : A line running from the bottom corner of a sail so ye can adjust it for the wind

SHROUDS : Part of the standing rigging used to support the masts.

SLOOP : A single-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged ship much favoured by pirates because of its speed, shallow draught and fast turning ability.

SLOW MATCH : A cord of braided hemp, often infused with saltpetre, that burned slowly like a candle wick and was applied to powder in the touch hole of a cannon in order to fire it.

SOUNDING LINE or lead : An instrument for measuring the depth of the water, a line with a lead weight on the end and marked in fathoms.

SPANKER : A fore-and-aft sail attached to a boom and gaff. The aftermost sail of a ship sometimes called the driver.

SQUARE-RIGGED : Fitted mostly with square sails.

STARBOARD : The right side of the ship when ye are facing forward. Opposite side to port.

STARTING ROPE : A short length of heavy rope with a knot in the end that the Bosun uses to beat crew members to make them work harder.

STEM : The foremost timber of the frame.

STERN : The aftermost part of the ship. That’s the back for the lubbers.